POLICE in Mqanduli yesterday admitted they were struggling to fight crime in the town and district and appealed to residents, traditional leaders and churches to help .
“We cannot fight this battle alone as the South African Police Service,” Coffee Bay police station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Siqhaza said.
He was speaking to residents at a mass prayer meeting organised by the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality in crime-riddled Mqanduli.
Siqhaza said the area was reeling in shock following the rape and brutal murder of 89-year-old grandmother Boniwe Wayiza and her five-year- old great-grandchild Sinamava Dyantyi in Khwenxura village near Mqanduli last month.
Wayiza was found with several stab wounds while Dyantyi’s throat was slit.
A 35-year-old man was arrested after his identity document was found at the scene of the slayings. He is due to appear in court again this week.
Siqhaza told the villagers police were struggling to win the war against criminals in Mqanduli and surrounding area and were calling on residents and traditional leaders to help them.
“Churches must stand up. Ward councillors must help us by working closely with tribal authorities in their wards. We are committing ourselves to working together with our communities to fight crime.”
Mqanduli police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana said most rapes and murders, which were common in the area, were linked to boozing.
“We hold regular meetings with owners of taverns and shebeens in the area where we urge them to assist by closing their businesses a little earlier. The problem however is that some have liquor licences that allow them to operate well into the early hours of the morning.
“As a result, crime normally goes up on weekends because that is when people are out drinking and enjoying themselves.”
Jozana said they were asking communities to notify them about elderly women – and child-headed homes to enable those people to be taken to places of safety.
However, he said the crime problem was worsened by the fact that some villages were situated more than 70km away-making it hard to respond to crime scenes timeously.
Some of the rural roads were in such poor condition that they were impassable.
KSD’s crime prevention director, Fikile Hintsa, said the prayer would be followed by a crime prevention summit to be held in Coffee Bay soon.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba were expected to attend.
“We are committed to ensure to the safety of our citizens, businesses and visitors in this municipality. We hope the summit will also help us come with solutions .” —
Police can’t win ‘crime battle alone’
“We cannot fight this battle alone as the South African Police Service,” Coffee Bay police station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Siqhaza said.
He was speaking to residents at a mass prayer meeting organised by the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality in crime-riddled Mqanduli.
Siqhaza said the area was reeling in shock following the rape and brutal murder of 89-year-old grandmother Boniwe Wayiza and her five-year- old great-grandchild Sinamava Dyantyi in Khwenxura village near Mqanduli last month.
Wayiza was found with several stab wounds while Dyantyi’s throat was slit.
A 35-year-old man was arrested after his identity document was found at the scene of the slayings. He is due to appear in court again this week.
Siqhaza told the villagers police were struggling to win the war against criminals in Mqanduli and surrounding area and were calling on residents and traditional leaders to help them.
“Churches must stand up. Ward councillors must help us by working closely with tribal authorities in their wards. We are committing ourselves to working together with our communities to fight crime.”
Mqanduli police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana said most rapes and murders, which were common in the area, were linked to boozing.
“We hold regular meetings with owners of taverns and shebeens in the area where we urge them to assist by closing their businesses a little earlier. The problem however is that some have liquor licences that allow them to operate well into the early hours of the morning.
“As a result, crime normally goes up on weekends because that is when people are out drinking and enjoying themselves.”
Jozana said they were asking communities to notify them about elderly women – and child-headed homes to enable those people to be taken to places of safety.
However, he said the crime problem was worsened by the fact that some villages were situated more than 70km away-making it hard to respond to crime scenes timeously.
Some of the rural roads were in such poor condition that they were impassable.
KSD’s crime prevention director, Fikile Hintsa, said the prayer would be followed by a crime prevention summit to be held in Coffee Bay soon.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba were expected to attend.
“We are committed to ensure to the safety of our citizens, businesses and visitors in this municipality. We hope the summit will also help us come with solutions .” —
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